cooper



S. COOPER.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-Z7, I918.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Jaye L601:

8., COOPER.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-27. 1918.

- Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

S. COOPER.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27, 191s.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J0 il? IIIE- S." COOPER! LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

s. (IOOPER. LABEUNQ- MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT- 27, 1918.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

5 SNEETS-SHEET 5.

1 77146711301": 6* ,qflwri, 65071117:

' citizen of the U UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMON COOPER, 0F BROOKLYN, NE VV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LABELIN G-MACI-IIN E.

Specification ofLetters Patent. Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

Application filed September 27, .1918. Serial No. 255,955.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, Simon Coornn, a .cd States, and resident of the city of New I ork, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Tel eling-ldachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to labeling ma- (hines, having reference more especially to machines for applying labels to packages.

The invention has been particularly, though not ex lusively, designed for use in connection with or as an attachment to a wrapping achino of the character set out in my co-pending application for U. to. Patent Serial No. 255,956, filed September 27, 1918, wherein successive groups are automatically removed from a row or. rows of boxes, and wherein wrappers are-successively severed from a web and applied to and eiiectively folded about the succeeding groups of boxes in such a manner as to pro duce, rapidly and economically, packages of uniform shape and size; the thus folded packagesbeing arranged side by side williin and advancedv along a suitable delivery trough or chute. Where my invention is associated with a wrapping machine labels are afiixed in an e'llicient manner to the folded ends of the wrappers of the succeed ing packages as rapidly as the latter are delivered; which labels thus applied serve, among other things, toseal the ends of the packages.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of my invention as 00- ordinated with a wrapping machine of the character above indicated, it is to be understood that labeling mechanism embodying my inventionmay be operatively connected with any usual or approved type of wrapping machine from which the packages are delivered in successive order; or, if desired, such mechanism may be. installed and operated independently oi"? a wrapping machine.

The construction and operation of the labeling mee ianism herein disclosed to illustrate theprinoiple oiimy invention will be hereina'iter described in detail, and the scope of the invention be defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure l is a front elevation of labeling mechanism embodying my invention as associated with a package wrapping machine, only so much of the latter being indicated as is necessary to illustrate the invention.

Fig. 2 isa sideelevation of the said mechanism, including parts of the wrapping ma,- chine cooperating therewith.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the labeling mechanism, showing the parts in the relative positions which they occupy when the carriage bearing the label pasting and transferring elements is at the uppermost limit of its travel adjacent the label receptacles.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of said mechanism when the carriage is at the lowermost limit of its travel with the label pasting-z-md transferring elements adjacent the ends of a package.

Fig.5 is a sectional detail enlarged, of one of the label pasting and transferring elefrom said receptacles.

, 8 is a transverse horizontal section through said label receptacles, as on the line 88 of'Fig. '7.

Fig. 9is a perspective view of the reciproeating carriage and the oscillatory label pasting and transferring elements thereon, said elements being shown inthe positions which they occupy when the carriage is at or about the uppermost limit of its travel.

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the package support, the paste-applying rolls, the pressure members and adjuncts, said rolls and members being illustrated in the positions which they occupy when the carriage (indicated in dotted lines) is at the lowermost limit of its travel.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the pressure members. f

Referring to the drawings, 45 designates the supporting frame of a package wrapping machine, and 46 designates the main or drive shaft extending longitudinally of the machine.

59 designates an intermittently rotatable turret structure having a series of peripheral chambers or receptacles to which groups of boxes, associated with wrappers, are successively introduced, and each wrapper is properly folded about the boxes during the intermittent travel of the turret from the receiving to the-discharging station. The turret is fast on a suitably-disposed shaft 57 which is actuated by the co-acting members 60, 61 of a Geneva stop mechanism on the shafts 46 and 57 respectively.

248 designates a delivery trough or chute into which the packages are successively discharged from the turret, by means, for example, of a swinging bar 249 carried by an arm 250 rising from a rock-shaft 194 which is connected with and operated by a cam 197 on the main shaft by means of an arm 195. As each package is thus entered in the trough the preceding packages are advanced side by side along the trough.

125 designates a rock-shaft having its bearings in the frame work of the wrapping machine, which rock-shaft effects through suitable connections the timely operations of wrapper cutting devices and other instrumentalities of the wrapping machine. This rock-shaft bears an arm 159 which is connected by means of a link. 160 with a suitably-disposed lever 161 which overhangs the main-shaft and is operatively engaged with the race of a cam 164: on the latter shaft.

71, 71, designate two spaced-apart shafts extending transversely of the wrapping machine and concurrently driven from the main shaft through spiral gears 73, 72, on the respective shafts.

The mechanism above described is substantially similar to that illustrated in my pending application above identified, excepting that in the latter only one driven shaft 71 is used, while in the present instance there are employed two such shafts 71 having their rearward ends extended beyond the supporting frame in order to actuate certain moving elements of my novel label applying mechanism; and excepting also that in the present case spaced strips 10 are affixed to the main frame so as to extend from the delivery end of the trough and thus support the outermost packages successively in a position with their folded ends well presented to the operation of the label applying devices, which will now be described.

Supported on that end of the frame as adjacent the delivery end of the trough, are two bracket structures 11 having extensions 12 which are arranged in a horizontal plane somewhat above that of the trough. These extensions are spaced equally from a vertical line medially intersecting the strip extensions of the trough, and are constructed to support two upstanding receptacles which are adapted to contain the labels 13 for application to the respective ends of the succeeding packages. In the present instance each of these label receptacles comprises suitably-spaced vertical bars 1a which are affixed to the adjacent bracket extension; the lower ends of the bars depending below the extension and being provided with inwardly extending lips 15 upon which the edges of the lowermost labels are supported in such a manner that the labels may be individually withdrawn from the receptacle.

A suitable follower rests upon and maintains in fiat condition the labels (a) in each of the receptacles. Preferably this follower comprises a metal plate 16 upon which centrally bears the foot of a vertical stem 17, having a shouldered upper end against which presses the free end of a leaf spring 18. This spring is carried by a vertically movable block 19 having near one end thereof, an orifice 20, preferably square, through which freely extends an upstanding bar 21 corresponding in cross-section to the orifice, which bar rises from a lug 22 on the adjacent bracket 11. The upper ends of the bars for the followers of the two receptacles are connected by a cross-bar 23.

The follower parts just described are so relatively arranged that when the plate 16 is resting on the labels, as shown in Fig. 7, the block 19, which is relatively heavy, acts upon the stem, through the interposed spring connection, so as to exert downward feeding pressure upon the labels. The outei end of the block, by its sliding connection with the bar 21, sinks slightly and thus causes the outer lower and the inner upper edges of the orifice 2G to bind against the contiguous surfaces of the bar and thus clamp the apertured end of the block against the bar in opposition to any lifting force on the bottom of the labels, such force being absorbed by the yielding action of the spring. Thus upward movement of the block is prevented; but as the lowermost labels are successively withdrawn from the receptacle the block is permitted to descend accordingly, by gravity, on the bar. By manually lifting the outer end of the block, said block can be freely raised preparatory to the refilling of the receptacle with a sup ply of labels.

Two vessels, 23, adapted to contain paste or other suitable adhesive substance, are supported in spaced relation to the respee tive sides of the package supporting strip 10 at the delivery end of the trough. In the present instance each of these vessels is provided at its outer end with recessed lugs 24 which pivotally rest upon the stud 25 projecting from the end of the main frame 45. end, is seated upon a vertical set-screw 26 which is mounted on a bracket 27 extending from the frame. By manipulating this screw, the vessel 23, and its appurtenances, may be nicely adjusted vertically on the stud 25 as an axis. Depending into the vessel at is inner end is a paste-lifting roll 28, the shaft 29 of which is mounted in bearings 30 on the sides of the vessel, and is provided at one end with a gear wheel 31, which is actuated through an idler 32 by a gear wheel 33 on the adjacent driven shaft 71 of the wrapping machine, whereby during the operation of the latter the paste roll 28 is continuously rotated. The vessel is provided with a cover 34, and also with an adjustable scraper 35 of usual construction for the paste roll.

Afiixed to the end of the main frame 45 are two spaced apart vertical guide bars 36 between which the package supporting strips 10 extend, which bars constitute a guide for a vertically reciprocative carriage 37. This carriage, in its preferred form, comprises an open rectangular frame structure, the upper cross-member of which overhangs the package supporting strips. (See Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 9.) Such member is flexibly connected by means of a link 38 with an arm 39 extending from the rockshaft 125 of the wrapping machine, whereby during the operation of said shaft 125 the carriage is vertically reciprocated with its upper cross-member traveling within the space between the package supporting strips and the label receptacles. Mounted on the carriage are devices by means of which paste is sufficiently applied to the bottoms 6., the backs) of the lowermost labels are in the respective receptacles, and such labels then removed individually from the receptacles and positioned adjacent to the respective ends of a package supported by and between said strips. These devices include two pivotally supported elements each of which, in its preferred form, comprises an angularly related arm 40 and plate 41 having a connecting hub portion 42 which is loosely mounted on a stub 43 extenuing from the carriage 3'7, (see Fi 9), the construction being such that when the carriage is down, the plate 41 depends vertically, by gravity, adjacent to one end of the package, and the arm 40 inclines upward and inward, as seen in Fig. 4. This arm 40 is provided at its outer end with an anti-friction roller 44 for operative contact with stationary cam devices hereinafter described. The outer face of the plate 41 is shaped and proportioned in substantial accordance with the form and dimensions of a label and is slightly tapered toward its free end, which 'outer face is adapted in the initial upward movement of the carriage 37 The bottom of the vessel, at its inner to rub against a suitably-located paste applying roll 45', and be thereby supplied with a thin coat of paste. There are two paste-applying rolls for the respective label pasting devices. These rolls are preferably carried by the upstanding portions of angular rock frames 46 which are respectively pivoted, as at 47, to a pair of oscillatory bars 48 ising from spaced pivot studs 49 on the machine frame. Each of the rock frames 46 comprises two spaced angular members connected by cross-rods 50. The cross rods 50 of the lower or shorter limbs of the frames 46 are yieldingly connected to the bars 48 by retracting springs 51, which tend to maintain the roll bearing limbs normally in parallelism with the respective bars. The bars 48 are pivotally connected to rods 52, the outer ends of which are slotted and slidingly supported of the driven shafts 71 of the wrapping machine. These rods bear lateral rolls -which are held in operative contact with counterpart cams 54 on the respective shafts 71 by means of a spring 55 connecting depending extensions 56 of the said bars.

The contour of the cams 54 is such that in a part of their rotation the bars 48 are swung outward by the action of the spring, so that the rolls 45 contact with and are maintained a ainst the respective paste-lifting rolls 28 for a stated interval of time; the latter rolls thus rotating the rolls 45 and applying a thin coating of paste thereto. (See Fig.3.) In the continued rotation of the cams 54 the bars 48 and the roll supportfrainos 46 thereon are returned to their inner upright position and are thus held for a prescribed period preparatory to their succeeding retraction by the cams. (See Fig. 4.) When the bars 48 are inward the carriage ascends and the tapering faces of the plates 41, contacting with the opposing rolls 45, receive therefrom a coat of paste. (See Fig. (3.) When the plates 41 escape the rolls 45 and approach the label receptacles, the rollers 44 of the arms 40 abut against inclined cam surfaces 58 formed on the lower ends of a pair of spaced-apart depending bars 58 which are allixed to the respective bracket extensions 12. The angularity of the cam surfaces 58 is such that as the carriage approaches the limit of its upward stroke, the arms 40 are swung downward and the associated plates 41 thrown upward to position the paste coated surfaces of the plates directly against the undersides of the lowermost labels in the respective receptacles; it being noted that the edges of the plates 41 are suitably recessed, as at 41, to permit them to clear the lips 15 at the lower ends of the bars 14 of the label receptacles. Such labels thus adhere to the tapering faces of the plates 41, and, therefore, in the succeeding descent of the carriage the adherent labels are withdrawn from the bottoms of the receptacles. in the descent of the carriage, the label pasting and ti devices, upon es aping the cams ti '1 the past-applying rolls from tho pit of the label bearing faces of the respective plates 41.

l'Vhen the labels a r: p- .oncd as above mentioned adjacent the ends of the package, such labels are stripped from tiie tapering outer faces of the plates 41 and directly applied to such ends by means of yielding pressure heads which are conveniently mounted on the respective guide bars 48. Each of the e heads p" l y LOIRPIlSQS a plate oi the same facial if "in and size as a label, or substantia ly so, having a serrated facing (32' of soft rubber or other suitable yielding material. (En this plate are two outwardly (intending spaced wings 63 which embrace the adjacent bar 48 and are sup.- ported thereon by pivot pins (53, the ends of which extend from the bar 48 through elongated openings 4 in the respective wings. This loose pivotal mounting oermits limited independent bodily of the head on the oscillating b: pose hereinafter mentioned, T 111 g of the head is such that when the bar is in upright position, the head plate 62 is inclined upwardly and outwardly, with its lower edge lying near to the end of the package to be labeled, said 1 ea l being yieldingly maintained normally in this position relatively to the bar by the action of a suitably-disposed spring (35 the ends of wnich are seated in sockets G6, 67 in the plate 62 and bar 48, respectively.

The upper portions of the respective wings (33 are offset, as at 68, to afford clearance for the upper cross-bar 50 of the roll bearing frame 46, which bar also coacts with such offset portions to limit the outward movement of the pressure heads, as seen in Figs. 4 and 6.

When the carriage, together with the depending plates 41 and their adherent labels, reaches the limit of its downward stroke, the bars 48 are simultaneously swung inward by the joint action of the cams 54, thus forcing the rubber coated faces of the pressure head plates 62 against the respective labels. These heads, by virtue of their resilient and loose pivotal mounting above referred to bear uniformly against the opposing surfaces of the labels, and, while the heads are thus positioned the carriage and therewith the label pasting and transferring devices are raised. T he pressure of the hearing surfaces of the heads against the labels overcomes the sliding connection of the paste coated surfaces of the latter with the inclined surfaces of the plate 41, and thus strips the labels therefrom. (See Figs. 4 and 6.) As the ascending plates escape from the labels the yielding heads 62 press the labels, with their paste coated surfaces inward, squarely against the opposing ends of the package, thus insuring the efficient application of the labels to the end folds of the wrappers. In the continued ascent of the plates 41 their tapering surfaces contact with the yieldingly supported paste-applying rolls 45, as seen in Fig. 5, and receive therefrom a fresh coat of paste preparatory to a repetition of the above described operations for the labeling of a succeeding package.

As each package is advanced along the trough from the wrapping machine and positioned at the labeling mechanism, the immediately preceding package with the labels attached thereto is moved snugly between a pair of spaced vertical rolls 69 which are loosely mounted in suitably-disposed brackets 70 on the supporting strips 10, such rolls thus rotating against the labels and pressing them firmly upon the respective ends of surface normally positioned adjacent the package support; means, including a carrier, for moving said element between the said support and receptacle; a source of paste supply; a body movable in a plane between the said source of supply and the path of said member; a paste-applying roll resiliently supported on said body; means for actuating said body to position the pasteapplying roll in the path of the receiving surface of said member during the travel of the latter toward the label receptzc e; means for independently moving the said element to present the paste bearing surface thereof to a label in the receptacle, and for permitting said member, with the label attached thereto, to return to its normal position; and

means on said body for stripping the labelcent the package support; means, including a carrier, for moving said element between the said support and receptacle; a source of paste supply; a body movable in a plane between the said source of supply and the path of said member; a paste-applying roll resiliently supported on said body; means for actuating said body to position the pasteapplying roll in the path of the outer surface of said element during the travel of the latter toward the label receptacle; means for independently moving the said element to present the paste-bearing surface thereof to a label in the receptacle, and for permitting said member, with the label attached thereto, to return to its normal position, and means on said body for stripping the label from said surface and applying it to a package on said support.

In a labeling machine, the combination with a package support, of a label receptacle above the same; a carriage vertically reciprocable between said support and receptacle; a label pasting and transferring element mounted on said carriage, said element including a member normally positioned adjacent the package support; means, including a swinging bar, for applying paste to the outer surface of said member during the upward travel of the carriage; means for independently moving the said element to present the paste bearing surface thereof to a label in the receptacle, and for permitting said mem er, with the label at tached thereto, to return to its normal position during the downward travel of the carriage; and means, including a pressure member resiliently mounted on said bar, for stripping the label from said surface during the next succeeding upward travel of the carriage and for applying said label to a package on said support.

4. In a labeling machine, the combination with a package support, of a label receptacle in spaced relation thereto; a label pasting and transferring element having a paste receiving member and an operating member: means including a carrier for moving said element between the said support and receptacle; means, including a swinging bar, for applying paste to the outer surface of said receiving member during the travel of said element toward the receptacle; a cam arranged in the path of said operating mem-, ber during such travel and adapted to coact with said operating member to present the said paste bearing member to a label in the receptacle and to permit said latter member, with the label attached thereto, to return to its normal position during the travel of said element toward the package support; and means, including a pressure member resiliently mounted on said bar, for stripping the label from said. paste bearing member dur ing the next succeeding movement of said element toward the receptacle and for applying said label to a package on said support.

5. In labeling machine, the combination with a package support, and a label receptacle in spaced relation thereto, of an oscillatory label iasting and transferring member; means for supporting said member normally adjacent to and in substantial parallelism with one end of a package on said support; means for supporting and actuating said member whereby it is moved toward and into contact with the contents of the recep tacle and then returned to its normal position; means, including a swinging bar, whereby paste is applied to the outer surface of said member in its movement toward the receptacle whereby a label is pasted and withdrawn from the receptacle and posi tioned adjacent the end of the package; and means resiliently mounted on said bar for stripping the label from said member and applying it to the adjacent end of the package.

6. In a labeling machine, the combination with a package support and a label receptacle in spaced relation thereto, of an oscillatory tapering plate constituting a label pastand transferring member; means for supporting said plate normally adjacent to and in substantial parallelism with one end of a package on said support; means for supporting and actuating said plate whereby its outer surface is moved toward and into contact with the contents of the receptacle and then returned to its normal position; means, including a swinging bar, whereby paste is applied to such outer surface when said member is moving toward the receptacle, whereby a label is pasted and withdrawn from the receptacle and positioned adjacent the end of the package; and means resiliently mounted on said bar for stripping the label from said member and applying it to the adjacent end of the package.

7. In a labeling machine, the combination of a package support; a label receptacle in spaced relation thereto; a laterally movable body adjacent said support; a paste-applying device mounted on said body; means for moving said body toward and from the said support: means in the outward path of said device for supplying paste thereto; a label pasting and transferring element includng a member normally positioned adjacent he package support; means, including a arrier, for moving said element between the said support and receptacle, said element in on the said body and movable thereby against the label on said element so as to strip the label from the latter and apply it to a package on said support.

8. In a labeling machine, the combination with a package support, means for feeding packages successively thereto, and label re: ceptacles arranged above the said support and in spaced relation to each other, of a pair of oscillatory bars embracing the said support; paste applying devices carried by said bars; means for periodically swinging said bars toward and from each other; means for supplying paste to said devices when the bars are swung outward; label pasting and transferring elements including members having paste and label receiving surfaces normally positioned adjacent the support; means, including a carrier, for moving said elements between the support and said recep tacles, said elements in their upper movement contacting with the respective pasteapplying devi es; means for independently moving the said elements to present the paste-coated surfaces thereof to labels in the respective receptacles and for permitting said elements, with the attached labels, to return to their normal position; and pressure members yieldingly mounted on said bars and movable thereby toward and from the ends of a package on said support, whereby the labels are stripped from said elements and applied to the respective ends of the package.

Signed at New York, in the county and State of New York, this 18th day of Septemt 1918.

SIMON COOPER. 

